Several cities in C China’s Hubei hit by heavy rainfall, floods

Several cities in Central China's Hubei Province were severely hit by heavy rainfall and floods with some initiating a high level emergency response for flood.

Heavy floods hit Liulin town in the city of Suizhou on Thursday. Some shops along the roadside have been flooded with water levels reaching the second floor. The region is out of electricity and tap water, according to Hubei provincial rescue authority on Sina Weibo on Thursday.

From Wednesday 8 pm to Thursday 8 am, the rainfall in some towns in Suizhou exceeded 100 millimeters.

Many towns in the southern part of Suizhou have suffered floods and serious damage, with local power and communication disrupted, leaving many people trapped.

Rescue teams, armed forces and working groups from the provincial emergency management department have been dispatched to local regions.

Yicheng, another city in Hubei, also suffered large rainfall last night. As of 6 am on Thursday, the largest rainfall recorded by a station in Banqiaodian Town has exceeded 400 millimeters and the urban rainfall is close to 300 millimeters, the maximum in the city's recorded meteorological history.

A total of 44 reservoirs in the city have exceeded flood limit. No casualties have been reported as of press time.

The city issued a level-I emergency response for flood at 4 am on Thursday.